Shoulder decompression add-on cost in Watford City, ND — inpatient
In Watford City, ND, 1 hospital lists a cash price for shoulder arthroscopy: shaving of the shoulder bone (add-on to another shoulder surgery) as an inpatient: from $5,197.40 to $5,197.40, with a median of $5,197.40. Across North Dakota, the median is $2,733.84 at 2 hospitals.
Cash prices at 1 facility for code 29826, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 27, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between May 1, 2026 and May 1, 2026.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McKenzie County Healthcare System Watford City, ND · (701) 842-3000 SURG 29826 ARTHRO SHLDR DECOMP SUBACR SPC W PART ACROMIOPLSTY | $5,197.40 | $7,996.00 | $7,036.48–$7,836.08 | 35% | May 1, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $5,197.40, median $5,197.40, highest $5,197.40.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 1 facility here, median $5,197.40 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At the one hospital here that publishes insurer rates for this code, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated and below every plan's rate. If you have insurance but have not met your deductible, you usually pay your plan's negotiated rate, which falls somewhere in the "Insurers pay" column. Paying cash can cost less, but a cash payment usually does not count toward your deductible. Ask the hospital for both numbers before you book.
What it is
During shoulder arthroscopy, the surgeon uses small cuts and a camera to shave bone from the underside of the acromion and may release a ligament, making more room for the rotator cuff tendons. This is called subacromial decompression. It is done for impingement or together with rotator cuff repair.
What the price covers
29826 is an add-on code that is always billed together with a main shoulder arthroscopy code, such as rotator cuff repair, so its price covers only the extra step. The surgeon's fee, anesthesia and the main procedure are billed separately.